How is rock salt deposited from evaporating seawater?

Rock salt, or halite, originates from the evaporation of seawater in environments where water loss exceeds inflow, such as in partly enclosed marine basins.123

As seawater evaporates, the concentration of dissolved minerals increases. Once a solution reaches its saturation point for a specific mineral, that mineral begins to precipitate and form layers on the basin floor. This process occurs in an orderly sequence based on solubility:4
* Initial precipitation: Less soluble components like calcite, gypsum, and anhydrite form first.24
* Halite precipitation: When the volume of the remaining seawater is reduced to about one-tenth of its original amount, sodium chloride (rock salt) begins to precipitate.12
* Final stages: More soluble minerals, such as potassium and magnesium salts, precipitate last.124

These thick, bedded deposits can later be subjected to pressure, causing the salt to flow and rise through overlying strata to form salt domes.156